Jake Biss (188-G-1998, college: Shippensburg) is a 25 year old 188cm guard from Latrobe, Pennsylvania playing his second professional season and first in Germany with the Gartnezaun24 Baskets Paderborn. Last season he played with the Den Helder Suns (Holland-DBL) averaging 12.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 90.3% in the BNXT league. He began his basketball career at Greater Latrobe High School and then played at ShippensburgUniversity (NCAA2) from 2017-2022 amassing a total of 118 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball in 2024 during his season with Paderborn
Thanks Jake for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany and signing with Pro A team Paderborn. After a solid rookie season in Holland, you didn´t land a job until now. Did clubs in Europe underestimate your talent? No I don’t think they underestimated my talent, I had to get surgery on my ankle late in august and wasn’t back to good health until recently
Did you ever visit Germany in your rookie season? What do you know about the country Germany and it´s basketball?
I did not visit Germany in my rookie season, this is my first time in the country. Don’t know a whole lot about it either, but I do know I’m in a very talented and respected league.
Head coach Steve Esterkamp was very happy to find you. What kind of an impression did he leave you in the first talks?
Coach Esterkamp seemed very welcoming from the jump. He explained things to me bluntly and let me know he could use what I bring to the table.
Paderborn is struggling. Do you feel a little pressure having to step up right away and help the team win? I know the team and the fans have expectations with this club having the rich history it does, and I plan to help the club succeed in any way possible. I’m sure if I give this team all I got they’ll embrace and support me whatever the outcome may be.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet well. What kind of player will Germany see? I think Germany will see a player that’s consistent. I know coach Esterkamp will put me in the right situations that best suit me well and allow me to succeed the way I know I can
If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I wouldn’t compare my game to Devin Booker, but he’s definitely who I try and mold my game after. I like getting to the midrange and shooting the ball at a high clip
You can fill the stat sheet well. How defined would you classify your versatility on the court? I see myself as a pretty versatile guard. I‘ve been a point guard my entire life up until last year where I got moved to the 2, but I really developed my shot last season and feel that I can make plays when needed or score the ball from all three levels.
What do you believe is a hidden strength in your game that is still a bit off the radar?
I think my defense is what a lot of people overlook. I may have to adjust to a few different strategies coach Esterkamp uses in his defense, but I’m confident I will adjust quickly and do well defensively.
What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
Like I mentioned I think I’m a solid defender. I’m not somebody that’s going to give you 4 steals a game, but I’m going to be solid all around and frustrate teams defensively
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to progress as a player?
This past summer I’ve really been working on my shot, especially off the dribble from 3. My mid range has always been my go to, but shooting a lot more three’s last season has developed my shot from distance and has made me want to expand even more in that direction.
Last season you played with the Den Helder Suns (Holland-DBL) averaging 12.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 90.3%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? Outside of basketball I think just hearing people speak a different language and all the street signs and advertisements you see around the city being in a different langue. I was quick to notice all the cars being a little smaller too. Nothing crazy, but it definitely takes some adjusting to.
Head coach Peter Van Noord gave you a lot of freedom as a rookie. How do you feel did your game grow in your rookie season?
He did draw up a lot of looks for me in timeouts which I appreciated and throughout the season I feel like I learned how to play more aggressive, whether offensively or defensively
You played at Shippensburg University (NCAA2) from 2017-2022. What is your summary of your career there? You had ups and downs and was very consistent. What was your fondest moment there reaching the Sweet 16 or the PSAC final?
My time at Shippensburg was great. That’s where I figured out with the help of my coaches how to become a scorer. Reaching the sweet 16 my freshman year was a really cool moment and definitely one of my favorites. Especially learning from and being led that entire year by my teammate Dustin Sleva, who is having a great career playing in Europe.
In 2020-2021 the season was cancelled because of Covid. How do you remember this time? Were you an animal in the gym?
Not having a season in 20-21 was pretty rough for everyone. It was hard to even find gym’s that were open, but fortunately a family friend allowed me to use his gym during most of that time.
You had so many great games including numerous 30 plus point games. What was your best personal performance in the NCAA 2? My best performance was probably the first game of my junior season against Virginia Union. It set a great example for the rest of the season and helped build more confidence in myself and my team
How did head coach Chris Fite groom and preparer you best for a professional career?
Coach Fite did an outstanding job with me. After grooming me and helping me adjust to the college game my freshman year he basically game me the keys to the car and told me this was my team the following season. That alone filled me with a confidence I never knew I had. His trust in me is what really helped develop my game and led to a successful 4 seasons at Shippensburg.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kyon Hardy? Hahaha I don’t know if Kiyon and I ever played 1’s in practice, but I’m sure they would be tight games if we did. Kiyon was a great player, super smart out on the court and an even better teammate.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
The only player I know I played against in college who ended up playing in the NBA was BJ Johnson from La Salle, the one D1 school who would play us. Other guys like Amir Hinton, Anthony Lee and Jacobo Diaz were always tough to play against too. The PSAC produces a lot of professional talent.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? My top five teammates of all time are Sean Graytok, Reed Fenton, Austin Butler, Bryce Butler, Tim Kisick in no specific order
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Current players NBA Mt. Rushmore is probably Joker, KD, DBook and Steph
Who is your GOAT and why?
I’m honestly not a big fan of the Goat debates. There’s too many stipulations like eras and stats and championships to ever get a good answer. If I have to pick probably Kobe. I just respect him as a person and his game more than any other player.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I did not see the sequel to that movie unfortunately. I’m assuming it wasn’t as good as the first one lol
Sidney Brown (177-PG-1999, college: Albright) is a 25 year old 177cm point guard from New Jersey that just completed his first season overseas with SG MTV/BG Wolfenbuettel (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 25/5/5/4. He began his basketball career with Winslow Township High School. He then played at Albright College (NCAA3) from 2017 to 2022 playing a total of 99 games and as a senior averaged 15.3ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.2apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 37.4%, FT: 85.3%. He then got experience playing semi pro ball in the States with the Atlantic City Gambits (TBL), Albany Patroons (TBL) and Tri-State Admirals (TBL). He spoke to germanhoops.com after finishing his first season overseas in Germany.
You just completed your first pro season overseas with the SG MTV/BG Wolfenbuettel (Germany-Regionalliga). What kind of an overall experience was it for you? What did you enjoy most from it?
It was definitely a great experience, learning to be independent living on my own and providing for myself on a daily life scale, being able to travel on my own to different locations of Germany, and being accompanied by great teammates, staff, and fans made the entire season here warm and welcoming. I am glad to have been able to experience a great city.
It was a solid season for SG MTV/BG Wolfenbuettel (Germany-Regionalliga). The team began well winning 6 of it´s first 7 games. Then came a 6 game losing streak which turned the season around. What happened in that losing phase? We kind of lost our identity, losing two teammates who were crucial to our success, and just getting the new young guys accustomed to a new level of playing that they haven’t quite experienced yet.
The team then rebounded and had a 5 game winning streak and then lost 4 of 5 games to finish the season. What was your summary of the season? If we were able to keep our full team for the whole season we would have been able to crack the top 4 for sure, we had a great group of guys but losing important teammates and some games not everyone being able to play messes with the flow of the team. I’m sure the top 4 teams had the same roster throughout the season and for winning teams that’s crucial to have. Besides that the guys who were around had competed and played every game with all we had and left it out there on the court win or loss.
How much of a factor was age for the season? The team was very young? Was the team missing a few experienced guys? Yes, both our 4 men left in different parts of the season, one due to injury early in the season around October, and another for studying abroad in mid February. Missing those guys gave us a different look in size and experience, but this game waits for no one, the next guy just has to step up, But over time I do believe our young guys matured very well over the season and in the next steps of their careers I definitely feel you should look out for them because they will be making impacts wherever they play in the future.
You had a great first season overseas averaging 23/5/5/4. What was your personal summary of your season? I could have been better and I will be better, I don’t ever get complacent with myself. There is always a new level to acquire and I will strive to get there. As a primary ball handler and playmaker, my points and assists should be up way more in this league.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 177cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description. You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet with ease. What is your biggest strength on the court?
It’s hard to compare to one person in the NBA, if I had to stay it’d be DeAaron Fox, mixed with some Kemba Walker offensively, and Jose Alvarado defensively. My coach compared me to TJ Shorts’ variant with just a better 3 point shot. I feel my biggest strength is my quickness and shooting skills. Every team plays full court man, so a lot of time the games are 5 versus 4 in my favor because as I was taught that man in front of me is already beat, it’s about reading what the other 4 people are doing and make the best read I can whether that’s shooting or creating for a teammate. And adding shooting with that quickness means you have to play me up so in most games defenses are at my mercy on the court.
You have always been a great three point shooter. This season you shot 37% in Germany. What is missing from becoming a 40% shooter? Taking more efficient 3 point shots. Understanding if I miss 2-3 three’s that it’s time to get below the 3 point line and get into my pull up, floater, or layup which I do just as well if not better than my 3 point shot.
You’re an aggressive and very ambitious defender. Do you feel that opponents underestimate you at times because of your height? No not at all, most times after a couple minutes guards usually pass the ball up to get it away from me which lets me know I am disrupting their flow of the game and makes me more hungry defensively, it’s been happening since high school.
You had 9 and 8 steals in a game this season. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I am just a crafty defender, I know if someone is in a pivot and tries to play with the basketball in my face I am quick enough to swipe the ball away, or like Jose Alvarado getting the chase down sneaky steals. Now the next step is truly just understanding the flow of the game, especially in help defense, seeing what the opposing players are seeing and being one step ahead.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player? To be a better rim finisher and attacking players bodies to draw fouls. Players with fouls play differently in foul trouble and if I can make players have to play conservative it becomes more in my favor.
It took you 2 seasons of grinding in the States to come overseas. How tough were these few years? Did you ever lose faith in the basketball process?
Those years were definitely the biggest test of my faith to achieve my dreams. I gave myself two years to make it overseas, and if I didn’t I would have given up and just got a regular job, so the timing of it all was really remarkable. Some nights I would just stay up thinking is all this hard work that I am putting in even worth it but my trainer and close friends and family told me to just keep at it, stick to my script and you will be rewarded for it and I am glad to say they were right.
How much of an issue has your height been for you your whole career? The chip has to be extremely enormous for you. How have you dealt with it on a daily basis?
The saying goes that guards come a dime a dozen and in my case for undersized guards like me those odds are multiplied by 100. There is a me in every city, or town wanting to be where I am or higher, and the question people tell me all the time is what will I do to be different to get there. The chip used to weigh me down for how heavy it was,but I began to understand that just being yourself is the key, and either they like you or they don’t. There is no faking who you are on this journey either the opportunity comes to you or it doesn’t, and that is life. This game doesn’t dictate your life and you shouldn’t give it the power to either.
You played for 3 TBL teams with Atlantic City Gambits , Albany Patroons and Tri-State Admirals. What memories do you have of these years? How big was the grind and how did it make you stronger? These were the toughest years mentally, not playing a lot if at all tested if I wanted to really do this but I never wanted to be a TBL player I wanted to be a overseas player. It was just an extra step to keep me in shape while I waited for my opportunity to come to leave. It did make me stronger playing with people who have been where I wanted to be and it showed me the next level.
You played at Albright (NCAA3) from 2017-2022. How did your game grow in these years?
My game grew tremendously, honestly because this was the first time that I had access to a gym and the more consistent I stayed in the gym the more my confidence grew, from my freshman year of not playing at all, to my sophomore year through my fifth year being a 4 year starter and being a big contributor to our teams success. It was a great experience to grow and be able to turn myself into more of the pro I always aim and inspire to be. The more I stayed in the gym my shot making abilities improved tremendously, and I have always been able to defend so it began to give me more of a bigger role as the years went on.
In 2021 you helped win the MAC title. What memories do you have of this run? It was a covid championship so it really was a different experience, having games with no one in the crowd. It felt like condensed open runs and definitely memorable because if someone were to have caught covid during those times, more likely than not your season was over. But everyone bought in for the limited games we had and through that we were able to come out on top.
How did Rick Ferry groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
He gave me the confidence to shoot without fear, not many shots I took did he really ever tell me were bad shots but that also came from him seeing me constantly in the gym and seeing that I was doing what it took to be better so I imagined it was just his way of rewarding me for my hard work put in.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Troy Smoot? Me and him would go back and forth, definitely had battles playing each other for sure.
Who the toughest player you battled that reached the NBA?
I played against Dejuan Wagner in open gym workouts, JR Smith in a summer league, and Precious Achiuwa in a high school showcase game..
Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?
My 5 best teammates of all time I can say are my college teammates Samuel Majekodunmi, a true bucket getter, and DeLascio Dancy, a great floor general, Michael Cubbage, a great two way basketball player and pro who I played in high school with, and two of my Atlantic City Gambits teammates Frank Turner, a true point guard and well experienced overseas veteran who could break down any defense thrown at him and knew the game like the back of his hand, and Brandon Taylor a powerful 4-5 that could do literally anything he wanted on the court at all times throughout the game.
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? My NBA Mt Rushmore is LeBron James, Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, and Nikola Jokic
Who is your GOAT?
My GOAT is LeBron James, he is leaving his mark on this game unlike any other, and he is still playing better than most of the players in the league even at the age of 40, we will never witness anyone with the longevity and greatness of a career he has ever had.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? No I did not, I have learned that outdated sequels are unnecessary, film directors just need to make new films and leave some masterpieces alone because it taints the legacy of movies in my opinion.
Sasu Salin (190-SG-1991) is a 33 year old 191cm guard from Finland playing his 18th professional season and first with U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca (Romania-Liga Nationala). He began his career in his homeland with Tapiolan Honka. He then played 5 seasons with Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Telemach League). He then played in the ACB in Spain from 2015-2024 playing 5 seasons with Lenovo Tenerife, 2 seasons with Unicaja Malaga and 2 seasons with Iberostar Tenerife CB Canarias He has played 58 Euroleague games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against Lietkabelis.
Your playing for U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca (Romania-Liga Nationala) this season. After 9 years in the ACB, you have a new challenge in Romania. What kind of an experience has it been playing for this historic club? Till now, It has been a very pleasant. I’ve felt very comfortable and my family as well spending our time in Cluj so we are very happy.
The club has won the last 4 league titles in a row and last 2 cups. You have won titles in various countries. How confident are you that you will win some more titles? Of course this club has the reputance to be always fighting for the titles so that is the mindset that players have as well. We want to win.
After being a role player in the ACB, it seems like that is continuing this season again. What exactly is your role this season?
My profile thru out my career has been defense, shooter and that´s what I´m also doing here. Just doing my best to help the team to succeed.
This team has a lot of experience especially with guys like Richard, Seeley and Stephens. Can a guy of your age still learn new things from guys like these?
Of course. Its great to see experienced players and just to see the passion what they have for the game. Trying to take little things from each one of them.
You played the last 5 seasons with Lenovo Tenerife and averaged 40% from outside in your last 3 years. Was this some of the best basketball that you played in the ACB?
Probably, I had a very clear role and the system was well put together. Of course playing with marcelinho was one key to my success as well.
You were teammates in those years with guys like Aaron Doornekamp and Marcelino Huertas. Did guys like that become like brothers for you? After spending so many years together yes, kind of. Families were having great time on and off the court.
You were teammates the whole time also with Giorgi Shermadini there and in Malaga. What is your coolest story with him over the years?
Yeah me and Gio go ways back. Actually already in Ljubljana we played 1season together. Me and many guys know him as a Khachapuri man. We had a rule in Tenerife that if you are a mvp of the round or competiotion, u have to bring food for everyone. So pretty often he brought that delicious Georgian food.
You played 2 seasons with Unicaja Malaga. You were teammates with Brian Roberts after he returned from the NBA back to Europe. How special of a point guard was he? Does one still see this type of point guards overseas?
He was really good obviously. Spending time in Nba and euroleague tell about his talent. Maybe Yago has some same kind of style in his game.
You played your first 2 seasons in the ACB with Herbalife Gran Canaria. You were teammates with Royce O´Neal who averaged 7/5 in that season. 2 years later he reached the NBA and is still there. What was so special about his game? Royce was a great athlete and good defender. He also was a threat on offense. But I think for reaching the NBA level he understood that he wont be the main offensive guy and now we see, he is doing a great job.
In your first season you were coached by the legend Aito. How vital was it having a guy like that as coach in the ACB in your first year? How did he help your game most then? Aito, great coach. Easy to approach and easy to talk about everything. He made you feel good of yourself and your role so your confidence was always high. He trusts his players a lot.
In 3 years in the ACB you played 6 times against Luka Doncic and lost each time. What memories do you have of him. Would you have thought from his game then, that he would become a top 3 player in the world? Yeah, no surprise there Luka was awesome. Just watching him always first, you might get the idea that he is not the fastest, most athletic etc but when he started to play basketball, he was phenomenal.
Did you ever have to guard him? Do you remember him making a wow play in one of the games? I guarded him yes, he had a size advantage so he took me to post couple of times. No, not one thing but he just made the game look easy.
After starting your pro career in your homeland, you were 5 years with Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Telemach League) from 2010-2015. How vital were these years for your basketball development. What kind of a player did you become there? I feel like Ljubljana was the perfect place to start. A lot of work, practices etc but as a young guy that was exactly what I needed. There I realized that with defense I can make a difference. Shooting will always be there but I started to think more on my defense.
In your second season you had the luck to be teammates with the great NBA player Danny Green who was overseas because of the NBA lockout. What memories do you have of him? Danny came because of the lockout in the NBA Great guy, I think everyone liked him a lot. He was a very talented basketball player. Wish he could have stayed the whole season.
How do you remember your time with fellow young shooting guard Klemin Prepelic and the battles you had? You guys must of really pushed each other to the limit? Yeah since times in Slovenia already we played against each other. Amazing shooter, smart too. Happy for the career he has made.
In those first years in the Euroleague you played against so many legends like Holden and Langdon of CSKA or Rubio and Alan Anderson of Barca or Fotsis and Diamantidis of Panathinaikos and many more. Was there a player that you were most in awe then as a kid and then suddenly seeing him on the court?
Navarro was probably one of those, but of course all the ones you named too but Navarro was more special for me
You began your career with Honka Espoo Playboys (Korisliiga). What memories do you have of those early years? Was there a coach or mentor that was really vital for your very early basketball development? In Honka I was lucky to have great coaches yes. Mihailo Pavicevic, helped me to understand already the Balkan basketball that helped me for sure in Ljubljana as well. Gordon Herbert, great coach and Jussi Syrjänen, who was with us in juniors and 2nd division in men.
You were teammates with a great player with Jukka Matinen who I covered early in my career in Frankfurt. What memories do you have of him? Was he like a mentor for you? Jukka, great shooter and a hard working big guy. Helped me in my early years in Honka and national team. Good dude.
You played at the 2014 World Cup losing to USA 114-55. You played 18 minutes scoring 0 points. What memories do you have of that game. You played against Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, James Harden, Anthony Davis just to name a few. What could you take from that experience? Haha yeah, usa was tough but great experience. I remember I made a layup and hit the 24sec clock
You lost to Germany at the 2023 World Cup scoring 6 points. Do you see Germany being the favorite at the 2025 European Championships despite having a new coach? Germany has a very good team. So for sure they will be high on the standings. But I wouldn´t say they are the favorite to win it all.
Who were some of the best players that you battled in the ACB that reached the NBA? Doncic, easy answer.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Marcelinho Huertas, Luka Rupnik, Gio Shermadini, Anzejs Pasecniks, Teemu Rannikko and Emir Sulejmanovic
Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore? Lebron, Kobe, MJ, KD, Shaq
It was do or die time in Frankfurt. That happened because ratiopharm Ulm struck back in game 2 winning 83-78. Despite a big Frankfurt comeback, Ratiopharm Ulm showed great team play and endurance in the last 10 minutes and got an explosive game by raw big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue with 14 points and 19 rebounds. There is nothing more spetacular than a do or die game in any sport. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had to do a better job on the boards in game 3 and show that hustle and fight of game 1 in order to move on. Eintracht Frankfurt had more difficulty on the boards than in game 2, but it was actually the explosive first quarter that ended their season 76-59 as they couldn´t recover from it as they won the last 3 quarters 49-48, but couldn´t get over the hump as that one own massive run eluded them. “They were the better team from the start. I felt like our focus was good, but they were better than us both mentally and physically. They overpowered us from the start especially in the post up and rebounding. We never gave up and fought until the end. The next days will be very hard accepting that our season is over”, stressed Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliner guard Namori Omog. Ratiopharm did a great job coming into the game being the aggressor and set the punches early and played tough defense from the start stifling the Frankfurt drive to the rim. “Congrats to my team. We played with courage and very adult like. But I also give a lot of respect to Frankfurt and how they fought to the end. Key defensively was keeping control of Omog and Edoka and finding to our game early”, stressed ratiopharm Ulm head coach Florian Flabb. Omog did sparkle with 20 points, but Edoka only mustered 7 points on 3/13 shooting.
Jamie Edoka at the FT line
It was do or die in Frankfurt and ratiopharm Ulm knew better than Frankfurt just how high the stakes were. They didn´t waste anytime throwing the punches and began with that massive run that would allow them to have that comfortable lead until the end and never looked back. The guests began scoring quickly as the game was 6-0, 9-2 and before anyone really had understood what had happened, Frankfurt was looking up from a deep hole down 14-2. The trek up the steep hill kept getting steeper as suddenly ratiopharm Ulm led 19-4. In the run, ratiopharm Ulm was displaying a keen touch and combination of team basketball and incredible individual qualities that would give Frankfurt problems all afternoon long. The guests found their touch instantly dropping 4 three´s as Young Croatian Niko Jerkic (197-F-2007) connected twice, as did Swiss army knife Joel Cwik and Danish youth national player Frederik Erichsen. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had a big problem finding a rhythm as their ball movement was average and they couldn´t get to the rim as easily as they were used to. Plus Dutch big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue was like a brick wall in the paint and didn´t give Frankfurt anything easy. The Frankfurt big 3 of Crnjac, Edoka and Omog weren´t getting easy looks. Crnjac did give Frankfurt 5 points, but overall shots weren´t falling regularly as they were only 4/17 after 10 minutes. German Jordan Mueller connected for a trey at the end and ratiopharm Ulm had the staggering 28-10 advantage after one quarter. “We couldn´t find a rhythm and they did a good job packing the pant. Ulm played solid 1-1 defense and Frankfurt got nothing easy”, stated Skyliner Junior Florian Dietrich. “We were unsure and began very slowly while Ulm hit shots”, stated Raphael Edward. Ratiopharm Ulm shot 59% from the field and 63% from outside and had 14 rebounds and 3 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 24% from the field and 14% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 2 turnovers. “We played with a lot of energy and were well prepared”, commented Niko Jerkic.
Jordan Mueller from outside
In the second quarter Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners began well, but just couldn´t take that early momentum and manufacture it into a bigger run as ratiopharm Ulm executed well on offense and led by 21 points at half-time. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners began with better energy than the first quarter and received back to back lay in´s by Maximillian Peters and Namori Omog to trail 30-15. However Frankfurt just couldn´t find consistency at both ends. They gave up a 10-2 run to Ulm and trailed 39-17. A big plus for Ulm head coach Florian Flabb was his bench as their depth was a big advantage over what Frankfurt had to offer. Young German Milo Murray came off the bench and instantly hit a trey. Cwik and Aiyamenkhue also added lay in´s as Frankfurt couldn´t match their physicality and at times athleticism. Frankfurt just didn´t execute regularly which kept them behind. Ivan Crnjac had good moments as he manufactured 5 points and undersized big man Raphael Edward added another basket. He was a huge force on defense especially in the second half and finished with 4/5 and 4 steals in 22 minutes. “He is always in good spirits. He is so vocal and such a fighter. He gives so much energy and is like a mini hulk. He does so many key things not seen on the stat sheet”, warned Florian Dietrich. Ratiopharm Ulm got some key lay in´s from Erichsen and solid role player Jonas Zilinskas, but what really hurt Frankfurt was fouling Jervis Scheffs with 0,6 seconds behind the three point line. He made all 3 as Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners trailed 47-26 at half-time. “We kept fighting, but just couldn´t go on a big run. Frankfurt´s body language was better. It is never easy to come back when your down so much especially against a strong team like Ulm”, added Florian Dietrich. Ratiopharm Ulm shot 44% from the field and 43% from the three point line and had 30 rebounds and 7 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 28% from the field and 15% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 5 turnovers.
Raphael Edward with the runner
In the third quarter both teams kept punching back and forth as the guests won the quarter 19-18 as the big damage of the first quarter continued to haunt Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners came out refreshed and quickly dealt ratiopharm a blow with a rapid 6-1 run to trail only 48-33. In the run, the athletic players Omog, Messer and Edoka all found their spots and made lay in´s. But that little Frankfurt spurt was quickly erased as ratiopharm Ulm stepped it up again and did what Frankfurt couldn´t do which was go on a bigger run. Ulm slapped a 12-3 run in Frankfurt´s faces and once again they were looking up a steep road down 60-36. In the run the guests played excellent team ball as many guys shared in the success as Aiyamenkhue scored twice and swatted away a ball while Cwik added another trey and Scheffs added a 20 footer. In the last minutes Frankfurt got 5 points from Omog and a clutch three pointer from role player Finley Pruever, but Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners still had the giant deficit of 23 points. Jerkic also added a turn around shot finishing with 20 points leading his team in scoring and showed again that he is such a vital player for Ulm. “He is a 3 level scorer that gives us a lot of advantages when posting up. He is a hard worker and also very important on the defensive end”, stated Florian Flabb. Ratiopharm Ulm shot 45% from the field and 37% from the parking lot and had 41 rebounds and 14 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 22% from the parking lot and had 22 rebounds and 10 turnovers. “Ulm was prepared very well. There was simply too much trading of baskets instead of us going on a run”, commented Namori Omog. “We continued to keep our energy up and Endurance closed up the paint areas”, stated Niko Jerkic.
Niko Jerkic at the FT line
Even if Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners ended their season against ratiopharm Ulm, they did finish the game strong winning the fourth quarter 15-10. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners didn´t want to end their season hanging their heads, but really gave all they had led by Raphael Edward who was a defensive stopper. Edward led the charge with 2 steals, extreme hustle and keeping the Frankfurt intensity high which led to 6 stops against Ulm in the first minutes. Unfortunately for Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners only one bucket and free throws from Omog came in this phase as ratiopharm Ulm led 66-48. Aiyamenkhue finally got Ulm on the scoreboard at the 5,37 minute mark with a lay in. After a Crnjak runner, Aiyamenkhue scored again in the paint as Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners trailed 70-50. Down the stretch, Ivan Crnjac added 6 points, but time was running out and the deficit just never got any less. Jordan Mueller dropped another trey while Namori Omog scored Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners last basket of the season with a lay in. “I think one saw that we had our chances in the last quarter. They weren´t unbeatable. I feel like we could of achieved more, but just didn´t use our chances better”, said Namori Omog. “We managed the big lead well and just kept fighting on defense until the end”, said Niko Jerkic. Ratiopharm Ulm was led by Niko Jerkic with 20 points while Frederik Erichsen and Endurance Aiyamenkhue added 12 points a piece while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners was led by Namori Omog with 20 points while Ivan Crnjac had 19 points. Ratiopharm Ulm shot 46% from the field and 35% from outside and had 49 rebounds and 24 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 22% from outside and had 28 rebounds and 15 turnovers.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Tim Smith Jr in the Dragon Dome in 2024
Tim Smith Jr. (201-F-2000, college: N.Alabama, agency: 011 Sports) is a 24 year old 201cm forward playing his first season overseas with the Dragons Rhondorf. He began his basketball career at Lakewood high school and then played at 3 Universities. He began at California University of Pennsylvania (NCAA2) averaging 8.9ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 88.9%. He then played 2 seasons at Walsh University (NCAA2) averaging 10.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 72.1% and 16.1ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 87.1%. He then finished at the University of North Alabama (NCAA) averaging 9.4ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 79.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big win 94-72 win in Frankfurt
Congrats Tim on the big 94-72 win in Frankfurt. It was the first win in club history in Frankfurt. How good does it feel to achieve this? It feels amazing. We knew coming in that this was a big moment for the club, and to be the first team in history to win in Frankfurt is special. We came in locked in, played together, and executed the game plan really well. It’s a great feeling to make history with this group.
How big was the revenge factor after losing the last 3 times to Frankfurt and on a Trevian Bell buzzer beater last season in Frankfurt? The first loss in Rhondorf was tough a game that the Dragons should of won.
We wanted to come in and make a statement, not just for ourselves but for the club and the fans who’ve supported us through those tough losses.
How big was this win for the team. Coming off a tough loss at home against Leitershofen last weekend. The team seemed 100% prepared.
It was huge. After the Leitershofen loss, we knew we had to respond the right way. We had a strong week of preparation, focused on tightening things up on both ends, and came in ready to execute. Everyone was locked in from the start, and that showed in how we controlled the game. This win gives us a lot of confidence moving forward.
Frankfurt Skyliner Junior Jamie Edoka said after the game that they weren´t ready to face the Dragons and not on the same page. Did the Dragons want it more than Frankfurt?
I think we definitely came in with a stronger mindset. We had something to prove, and from the beginning, you could see the energy and intensity we played with. Every guy on the team was locked in and ready to compete, and I think that showed in how we took control of the game early and never let up.
The Dragons Rhondorf took control of the game from the second quarter onward and just managed the lead well. What did the Dragons Rhondorf do better on the defensive end to begin getting more consecutive stops?
We really tightened up our rotations and played more physical on defense. In the first quarter, they got some easy looks, but after that, we made adjustments, communicated better, and forced them into tougher shots. We also controlled the boards and limited their second-chance opportunities, which helped us get out in transition and build the lead.
In the second half, the offense continued to be very consistent. Has anything changed with how the offense works better now under new head coach Marko Zarkovic? Yes, there’s definitely been a shift. Coach Zarkovic has emphasized playing with better spacing and making quicker reads. He’s simplified our offensive sets in a way that allows us to play more freely while still being disciplined. The biggest difference is how we are attacking—there’s a clearer structure but also a focus on trusting instincts and moving the ball efficiently.
The team allowed only 72 points and gives up 89 points per game this season. What has Marko Zarkovic changed up or made adjustments that have allowed the team to not only keep flying around on the court but also grab rebounds better?
The biggest change has been defensive accountability. Coach Zarkovic has emphasized a more aggressive approach on defense while making sure we’re finishing plays by securing rebounds. We’ve focused more on positioning, communication, and making sure every guy is engaged in boxing out. He also made some adjustments to our rotations, making sure we have fresh legs at key moments to sustain our defensive intensity.
What have you enjoyed most about the coaching philosophy of Marko Zarkovic in the few weeks that you have known him?
I really like his energy and attention to detail. He holds everyone accountable, but at the same time, he gives us confidence. He wants us to play aggressive, fast-paced basketball, but in a smart and controlled way. His communication is also great—he’s clear about expectations and what he wants from each player.
You next play Coburg, who you beat in a grind-out game 62-58. This is another do-or-die game for the Dragons. Yeah, this is a huge game for us. Coburg is a tough team, and we know they’ll come in hungry for revenge after that last game. At this point in the season, every game is critical, and we have to approach it with the same intensity and focus we had against Frankfurt.
Kelvin Omojola stated after the game that the biggest strength of the Dragons Rhondorf was consistency and team. Is the team now 100% aware of how vital these last games are for the playoffs?
Absolutely. Every guy in the locker room knows what’s at stake. The mindset is clear—there’s no room for slip-ups. We have to bring it every game and stay locked in as a unit. The way we’ve been playing lately shows that we understand the urgency.
What was your impression of Jamie Edoka? He just turned 17 and is a starter in the Pro B. Could he be the next Isaac Bonga for Frankfurt?
Jamie is a talented young player. For someone his age, he already has a strong presence on the court and plays with confidence. He’s got good length, athleticism, and instincts, and if he keeps developing at this rate, I think he definitely has the potential to make a big jump in his career.
What was your impression of Malik Kordel? He has played between 40-50 pro games and destroyed the Dragons in the first game with a 16/21 game. He has offers from Michigan, Butler, and Villanova. How talented is he?
Malik is a special talent. He’s got great footwork, a strong frame, and a natural scoring ability that makes him tough to guard. His efficiency speaks for itself, and he’s only going to get better. You can see why he has those high-level college offers, he has the tools to be an elite player at the next level.
How big has Danas Kazakevicius been in the last months? Can one say that consistency has really rubbed off on him now? Danas has been huge for us. He’s stepped up in big moments and has really found his rhythm. You can see the confidence he’s playing with now—he’s making smart decisions, and being a steady presence on both ends. His consistency has been a big factor in our recent success.
Janne Müller had another great game and was the top scorer. He averaged 8.0 PPG last season and 13.6 PPG this season. Will this be his last Pro B season as he will be a full BBL player next season? I can imagine one has to enjoy every Pro B game now.
Janne has taken a big leap this season, and it’s been great to see his growth. He’s proven that he’s ready for the next level, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing in the BBL next season. For now, we’re just enjoying having him on the team and making the most of every game together.
Kenan Reinhart also has developed well in the last 6 weeks. He had a great start in Frankfurt, but why did he only play 13 minutes? Kenan has been playing really well, but it was just a matter of matchups and rotations in this game. Coach made adjustments based on what was working, and we had other guys stepping up too. It wasn’t about his performance, just about the flow of the game.
Marko Rosic had a tough stretch before the Leitershofen game but has since been great. Has he benefited from the new coach? I mean if I’m being honest I didn’t know he had a tough stretch, he comes to practice everyday and works his butt off and he gives everything he has to the team and I think he’s just playing with more confidence and we need that to make a push.
He really stepped up in the last 2 games and put Kelvin Omojola a bit in the shadow. How important is that competitiveness in a team at a stage like now, both for him and Kelvin? Competition within the team is always a good thing. It pushes everyone to be better, and at this stage of the season, we need guys stepping up. Marko playing at a high level doesn’t take anything away from Kelvin, it just makes us deeper and stronger as a team.
Kelvin Omojola had a tough game against Leitershofen with 5 turnovers and 4 in the first quarter. You sparkle with actions, but did you give him some vocal support after his tough first quarter? Of course. Everyone has tough stretches, and as teammates, we’ve got to pick each other up. I just reminded him to stay aggressive and trust his game. He’s a leader for us, and we all believe in him, so it was just about helping him reset and move forward.
How important has the leadership been of Kelvin Omojola? What have you liked most about his game? Kelvin’s leadership has been crucial. He’s vocal, he sets the tone, and he keeps us organized on the floor. What I like most about his game is his ability to control the tempo and make plays for others. He’s a true floor general, and that’s something every team needs.
Let’s talk about your game. You destroyed Pro B competition in the first 7 games, and then a dramatic fall in production came. Why did that happen, and did the mental part affect your game after that? Early on, I was in a great rhythm, playing with confidence, and everything was flowing. Then teams started adjusting, I was getting different defensive looks, and I had to adapt. I probably overthought things at times instead of just playing my game. It’s a learning process, and I’m using it as motivation to keep growing. To me basketball isn’t about how many points you score but how you impact the game I think I impact the game on all sides and provide more impact than just putting the ball though the hoop.
The coaching change came and you put up the big goose egg in Speyer. There were rumors that you and Marko Zarkovic had a falling out. Was that true?
I think it’s a combination of a lot of things, I’m learning and growing as a player I believe I provide more value to a game then just scoring. The more I focus on just being a good teammate and trying to win the better I will play and the team will play. And that’s not true at all, we had a conversation after the game basically about what I need to do better to contribute to the team winning games other than that I think we have had a good relationship in the short time I’ve known him.
Since that game your back playing very well averaging 18 points and 6 rebounds. Do you feel like you will be able to step up your game even higher so the Dragons reach the playoffs?
I’m putting in the work everyday to be the best player for the team that I can and I’ll do everything within my abilities to help us reach the playoffs.
You had 5 blocks in the last 2 games and the most in a 2 game span this season. Has it been more due to effort or understanding the players better the second time around?
Probably effort, like I stated before I do more than just score the ball so I’ve been trying to focus on impacting the game in other ways so that I get in the flow of the game.
What is your biggest personal goal now in the last games besides giving all you have for the team?
My biggest goal now is to control what I can control, go out every night and put on show for the wonderful fans we have and try and make a run.
Were the Dallas Mavericks jinxed this season? Dante Exum is out with a broken hand. They currently only have 8 players. How crazy is that?
Yeah, Dante Exum’s broken hand adds to an already insane injury list. They’re down to just eight available players, and with key guys like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II out, it’s starting to feel like they’re cursed. If things get worse, they might not even meet the NBA’s minimum roster requirements.
Kelvin Omojola (183-G-1997, college: Northwest) is a 27year old 183cm point guard that is playing his fourth professional season and fourth in Germany and second with the Dragons Rhondorf helping them win the pro B title last season averaging 12.7ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-2 (6.1apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 79.5%. In 2022-2023 he played with PS Karlsruhe (Pro A) averaging 3,1ppg and as a rookie played with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer (Germany-ProB) averaging 15.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 71.8%. He began his basketball career at Green Valley high school and then played at Red Deer (JUCO), Benedict College (NCAA2) averaging 9.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 66.7% and Northwest University (NAIA) averaging 7.4ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 62.1% and 13.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 54.2%, FT: 87.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the massive 94-72 win in Frankfurt.
Congrats Kelvin on the big 94-72 win in Frankfurt. It was the first win in club history in Frankfurt. How good does it feel to achieve this?
It feels great Miles to make some history! Frankfurt is a tough place to play because every time I’ve played here, Frankfurt always shoots the ball well and plays at a high level. So it’s great to get this win.
How big was the revenge factor after losing the last 3 times to Frankfurt and on a Trevian Bell buzzer beater last season in Frankfurt? Oh man the game winner last year hurt! The full court football pass and Trevian hitting the game winner over 2 people was crazy. But I’m glad we were able to win yesterday and this being my first win in Frankfurt in my career!
How big was this win for the team. Coming off a tough loss at home against Leitershofen last weekend. The team seemed 100% prepared.
It was huge Miles. We’re focused on getting into the playoffs by any means. We know every game matters and we need to get these wins. We were focused and ready to go.
Frankfurt Skyliner Junior Jamie Edoka said after the game that they weren’t ready to face the Dragons and not on the same page. Did the Dragons want it more than Frankfurt?
I would agree with that. On our end, we were communicating at a high level, playing great team defense, rebounding great, and moving the ball offensively. While on Frankfurt’s end, we did notice that they made some mental mistakes and had some defensive breakdowns. But still, they’re a tough team to beat because they have so many players that can hurt you.
The Dragons Rhondorf took control of the game from the second quarter onward and just managed the lead well. What did the Dragons Rhondorf do better on the defensive end to begin getting more consecutive stops?
We managed to get Frankfurt to take tough shots and not allow them to get any easy buckets. No dunks or moment plays so we were able to control the pace. Those moment plays can easily make the game get out of hand, so by us eliminating those it propelled us to keep playing our game.
In the second half the offense continued to be very consistent. Has anything changed with how the offensive works better now under new head coach Marko Zarkovic? Yes, Coach Marko preaches ball sharing and player movement. He doesn’t want anyone playing hero ball, and it works for both offense and defense. Since he’s taken over, our defense has improved and our movement on offense has improved as well.
The team allowed only 72 points and gives up 89 points per game in this season. What did Marko Zarkovic changed up or made adjustments that has allowed the team to not only keep flying around on the court, but also grab rebounds better?
He holds everyone accountable but he’s not unreasonable with what he’s asking. So it’s very easy to play harder, smarter, together, etc. We know what our goal is (making the playoffs) so we know we have to play and act like a playoff team.
What have you enjoyed most about the coaching philosophy of Marko Zarkovic in the few weeks that you have known him?
Just his approach to the game. He has a lot of qualities that I share as well. Qualities from holding people accountable, playing together, playing smart, and his demeanor on and off the court. He’s serious on the court when he needs to be, but he’s also extremely likable and light hearted. It’s a great balance.
You next play Coburg who you beat in a grind out game 62-58. This is another do or die game for the Dragons.
Yes, we need this win Miles. 4 games left in the regular season, we need every win. We’re battling with them for playoff position so this game is of the upmost importance.
You stated the biggest strength of the Dragons Rhondorf was consistency and team? Is the team now 100% aware how vital these last games are for the playoffs? Yes, we know how important these games are. We’re not taking any of them for granted and know what we have to do.
What was your impression of Jamie Edoka? He just turned 17 and is a starter in the Pro B. Could he be the next Isaac Bonga for Frankfurt? He’s a nice young talent! He plays older than 17 which is a huge compliment, he has a ton of upside for sure.
What was your impression of Malik Kordel? He has played between 40-50 pro games and destroyed the Dragons in the first game with a 16/21 game. He has offers from Michigan, Butler and Villanova. How talented is he? Yeah he’s another great young talent. It’s no surprise he has those high major D1 offers. He has high major size and athleticism, if he continues to improve his game and keep the work ethic, there’s no reason why he can’t get to the NBA.
Tim Smith Jr had another great game with 17/5/3 game and 2 blocks. He had some growing pains this season, but seems to be back to his old dominant self. Did you have some talks with him? He seems stable mentally again? Yeah Tim and I talked a lot actually! We had some heart to heart conversations, been hanging out even more off the court. I think he’s doing better as well. I’m proud of Tim, he’s a great player and an even better person.
How big has Danas Kazakevicius been in the last months? Can one say that consistency has really rubbed off on him now? He’s been improving all season, I’m proud of Danas! We need him for us to be at our best.
Janne Muller had another great game and was top scorer. He averaged 8,0ppg last season and 13,6ppg this season. Will this be his last pro B season as he will be a full BBL player next season? I can imagine one has to enjoy every Pro B game now? I’m not sure Miles. I know Janne has a lot of talent and if this is his last ProB season I wouldn’t be surprised!
Kenan Reinhart also has developed well in the last 6 weeks. He had a great start in Frankfurt, but why did he only play 13 minutes?
Yes he has, Kenan is improving everyday. He’s another really good young talent. As for the Frankfurt game, I’m not sure. We have a lot of talented guys on the roster and it’s tough to get a lot minutes. I think the only one who consistently gets high minutes is Tim. So it’s just a matter of making the most of your opportunities while you’re out there.
Marko Rosic had a tough stretch before the Leitershofen game but since been great. Has he benefited from the new coach?
Yeah Marko has, but it has nothing to due with the coaching change. He’s a great player and he can make plays and control the game any time he wants.
He really stepped up in the last 2 games and put you a bit in the shadow. How important was that competitiveness in a team in a stage like now both for him and you? Oh it’s huge, I love when Marko does well and balls out in the game. We push each other in practice and he knows I support him and have his back 1000%. I’m sure he feels the same way about me.
You had a tough game against Leitershofen with 5 turnovers and 4 in the first quarter. Was that first quarter one of the toughest in your career? Yeah it was tough Miles! It was definitely one of the toughest of my career, but that’s how it is some games. I wasn’t going to be sad or upset about it, just had to bounce back and do whatever I can to help the team win.
You bounced back well in Frankfurt with 8 points and 8 rebounds and scored back to back buckets at the end of the third quarter. How much to heart are you taking efficiency when you’re playing less minutes?
Yeah Miles this season has been totally different than last year in all aspects, so I’m just adapting and making the most out of the situation. Whether I play 30 minutes or I play 10 minutes, I’m just trying to go out there and make an impact on the game. With the main goal being, help us get the W.
What is your biggest personal goal now in the last games besides giving all you have for the team?
From a team perspective, to get us into the playoffs and make a playoff run! For me personally, to end the season playing my best basketball.
Were the Dallas Mavericks jinxed this season? Dante Exum is out with a broken hand. They currently only have 8 players. How crazy is that?
Yeah that’s crazy Miles, that’s the basketball Gods punishing them for trading Luka. They shouldn’t have done that, but being a Laker fan I appreciate it lol.
Moritz Schneider (191-PG-1999) is a 25 year old 191cm point guard that is playing his third season with the BSW Sixers Sandersdorf (Pro B). He began his basketball career with VFB Giessen and then played with Science City Jena playing JBBL, NBBL and for the Regionalliga team. He played 2 BBL and 2 Pro A games with Jena. He then played with Iserlohn (Pro B) from 2019-2022. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the historic loss to Leverkusen with only 5 players.
Thanks Moritz for talking to germanhoops.com. The BSW Sixers suffered a tough 108-57 loss to Leverkusen. This was a historic game as only 5 players played. How did this loss feel different than a regular loss when you have a full team?
It was tough playing with only 5 players against the #1 team in the league. We had never played together before and knew that we had no chance. We just wanted to play and not get injured and everyone get their chance in the game. We were glad at the end that the game was over. Leverkusen were very professional. Players came to me and said “ sorry this wasn´t your fault. Our 600 fans were amazing.
How did you prepare for the game. You knew on Friday that there would only be 5 players available? Did you do something different mentally or physically?
I went into the game knowing that I had to play. If we hadn´t played this game, the club would have gotten a big penalty. It is sad that we had to play with 5 guys. I think that if we would have had a full team, we could of won.
You had never been in a situation like this in your career where you would play so much. How tough was it starting the game knowing you won´t get a break? Did you have to find a routine how to conserve your energy? Our warm up was shorter than usual to conserve energy. We began 30 minutes before the game. Coach made it clear that he would call a timeout at the 5 minute mark of every quarter as well as focusing on tactical fouls.
What was the defensive game plan from coach? You couldn´t not just not play defense, but on the other hand couldn´t be over aggressive either in the fear of getting fouls. We wanted to play a lot of zone to conserve energy. They also hadn´t shot so well in the last game. We figured maybe we could frustrate them. They shot well against our zone. Our young guys simply didn´t have the experience of a Donte Nicholas.
Was the feeling going in that you would lose the game anyway? What was it like playing as hard as you could, but knowing the chances to win were as good as 0?
You go into every game to play hard. Our focus was not to concentrate on the score, but on positive things that happened in the game. We wanted to stay positive and not sink our heads.
Leverkusen led quickly 18-2 and 30-5 after one quarter. How quickly did you sense that they were there for business and not to play? I noticed in the first 5 minutes that they were the number #1 team. They hit shot after shot in the first half. They took their foot a bit off the gas pedal in the second half. They didn´t practice the full court press as much and worked on things on defense.
The BSW Sixers scored 19 points in the second quarter. What adjustments did the team make to generally play better basketball? We played better as there was less pressure. We hit more shots and our zone worked better.
The game was decided by the end of the third quarter as Leverkusen led 91-37. In the fourth quarter the Sixers actually won the quarter 20-17. How proud were you of yourself and the other 4 teammates?
I´m really proud of my teammates. We showed character and fought until the end. We stuck together and never gave up. I think that is a reason why we have been so unexpectedly successful this season.
How were you feeling in the fourth quarter? How do you explain be able to win the quarter? What was key for getting the quarter win?
They took their feet of the gas pedal. We found a flow and just played better together after gaining experience in the first 30 minutes. We hit more shots and were more successful inside as Dennis Heinzman was on the bench.
You dished out 9 assists which was a career high. How proud were you of yourself that you survived 40 minutes and didn´t foul out and gave all you could?
I´m the captain of the team. I´m not proud of myself, but my team. I´m so proud to be a part of this team. The fans support was so special. Fans hugged me after the loss.
Leverkusen were very professional and everything worked out well for everyone despite the loss. What will you always remember most from this game?
I will remember the moment when the game was over. We got a standing ovation from our fans as if we had won by 50 points. I know that I will never be a part of a game like this again in my career.
How did your body feel after 40 minutes? Was it as bad as you thought it would be or not? It was tough. I expected it to be bad and it was. But I feel better now 2 days later.
What was your favorite own assist of the day? My bounce pass at the end to Max Nwokedi for the dunk.
What did you learn about yourself after experiencing a game like this with only 5 guys?
I had never played 40 minutes before. I learned that in order to play 40 minutes, you have to be in great shape. We showed what we are capable of when we fight.
Whenever it starts to get warmer and it´s March, you have March madness in the United States where all the young talented players battle, while in Germany, the youth playoffs also start. Eintracht Frankfurt had a solid season starting 8-0, but lost the season series to FC Bayern Munich and finished the season at 11-3. In the first round of the playoffs, they had a real real tough best of 3 game playoff series with ratiopharm Ulm who had an unbeaten season at 13-0. They are a explosive scoring squad that scored over 100 points 5 times including a 136 points destruction of the Rhein Neckar Metropolitans and never scored less than 82 points in a game. But one had to remember that ratiopharm Ulm played in the B division which had weaker competition. Eintracht Frankfurt had the big 3 of Crnjac, Edoka and Omog and 2 great role players with Maximilian Peters and Julius Messer, but the big question was could they overcome the deeper roster of ratiopharm Ulm who have so much talent that they have 2 starting 5 teams equally as strong. On a mild Sunday afternoon, ratiopharm Ulm came to Frankfurt despite 8 of the 10 NBBL player that played in Frankfurt were coming off an incredible upset win the day before in the Pro B over top team RheinStars, but despite having played 24 hours earlier were ready to compete for 40 minutes, but lost a heartbreaker on a game winner from Ivan Crnjac. This contest truly deserved no loser. One could observe quickly after the game that ratiopharm Ulm head coach Florian Flabb wasn´t overjoyed with losing such a tight game. “Congrats to Frankfurt to the win. We weren´t able to bring the defensive intensity that we wanted. We will try to do better next weekend”, stressed Florian Flabb. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners weren´t the favorite on paper, but they played with so much heart and always stuck together during all lows of the game. “We played a good game. This was a classic game of runs. We never hung our heads and always stayed together. The most important thing in this win was that we always gave our best when we needed it most”, stressed Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners forward Ivan Crnjac. “This was a great youth game. There were many great individual performances and team play. We stuck together until the end”, stressed Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners head coach Thore Bethke.
Namori Omog at the FT line
The experience factor that ratiopharm Ulm had over Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners was overwhelming as they had over 140 Pro B games experience just in this season. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners came out punching as the guests weren´t able to match their intensity in the first 2 minutes as Frankfurt led 6-3 with attacking the rim and aggressive defense. Jamie Edoka (195-G-2008) made 2 big blocks and made a lay in while Namori Omog supplied 4 points. However it didn´t take ratiopharm Ulm long to find a groove as Croatian player Niko Jerkic and U-18 EM gold medalist Jordan Mueller dropped three´s to dead lock the game at 8-8. Both teams had a sound offensive rhythm as they traded 4 lead changes, but Frankfurt would regain the lead on Ivan Crnjac´s lay in on transition to lead 15-12 and never lose the lead again in the first quarter. Both teams stayed away from the bomb from outside, but rather stuck to the drive and the mid distance game. Frankfurt got a 20 footer by Edoka and a runner from Crnjac while ratiopharm Ulm got a 25 footer from Oliver Kullamae who is the son of Bamberg legend Gerd Kullamae, but Frankfurt led 19-16. German Jervis Scheffs who loves the shifty game made a lay in and Edoka an off balance shot to give Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners the 21-18 advantage after 10 minutes. “I sensed after one quarter that this would be a game at eye level. They are a deep and strong team. We had some problems with the pick and roll defense, but we took away their three pointer”, stated Ivan Crnjac.
Chris Widmer to the hole
The second quarter saw 3 runs with ratiopharm Ulm gaining 2 of them and the slim 41-38 advantage at half-time. Omog began the second quarter with a off balance shot to give Frankfurt the 23-18 lead, but ratiopharm Ulm then punched back with a lethal 13-0 run stealing the lead back and leading comfortably 31-23. In the run, ratiopharm Ulm was led by Jordan Mueller who supplied 8 points. He hit a trey and added 5 free throws. His ability to read the defense and pick his spots and quickness helped him be successful. Young German Milo Murray also added a lay in while Dutch big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue also made a lay in. This could have been a time where Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners would continue to cave in, but no they kept their chests held high and rebounded with a 10-2 run to dead lock the game at 33-33. In the run, Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners was led by Jamie Edoka with 5 points who never looked back and was always in attack mode as he drew a foul and scored while Ivan Crnjac made a lay in and German Julius Messer a tip in. Frankfurt presented a zone that gave ratiopharm Ulm problems with their offensive execution. However the run party of the second quarter wasn´t over as Ulm responded on a 8-2 run shortly before the break to lead 41-35. In the run the guests were led by Kullamae who is a pass first point guard, but in this phase showed that he could also lead a team with his scoring. He added 5 points getting to the free throw line. With a few seconds left Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had to inbounds the ball in their own end and somehow got the ball up to Ivan Crnjac a little past center court and he heaved up an acrobatic shot that looked like a Nikola Jokic shot from last season and saw it bank into the net. The BCM gym was rocking and Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners trailed only 41-38 at the break. “My shot felt good when I released it. I knew it would be short or go in. That shot gave us an added push going into the break. It helped us mentally as well”, commented Ivan Crnjac. Ratiopharm Ulm shot 41% from the field and 27% from outside and had 22 rebounds and 4 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 43% from the field and 17% from outside and had 16 rebounds and 1 turnover. “We didn´t communicate well on defense in the second quarter. We got away from our defensive principles”, stated Ivan Crnjac.
Ivan Crnjac with the half time buzzer beater
In the third quarter ratiopharm Ulm controlled the lead for a few minutes and led by as much as 9 points, but Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners never gave up and struck back going on a 20-5 run and get their lead back at 68-66 after 30 minutes. Ratiopharm Ulm came out pumped after the Crnjac buzzer beater and quickly went on a 9-3 run to lead 50-41. In the run the guests got 2 buckets on the drive from Jerkic and a 3 pointer from role player Barna Buglyo and another lay in by Aiyamenkhue. Frankfurt continued to have problems with the pick and roll defense and 1-1 defense. Ulm also slowed down Edoka better in the run. But Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners always had an answer for Ulm´s runs and this time unleashed a brutal 20-5 run to steal the lead back again at 61-55. Mr lightening speed Namori Omog led the charge with11 points as his quick first step and drive gave him good chances for the easy basket while Jamie Edoka added 9 points as he pretty much was successful with the same formula as Omog with his drive. There was a sequence where Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners scored 6 points in a span of 5-7 seconds. Edoka had a lay in and then 2 consecutive steals under the Ulm basket led to 2 baskets by Omog. “That was so important getting those quick baskets. It hyped our bench and gave us a lot of self-confidence”, expressed ivan Crnjac. However ratiopharm Ulm stayed strong and stayed with Frankfurt and rebounding from Frankfurt´s big run punching back with a 10-2 run as ratiopharm Ulm got lead back at 65-63. Jonas Zilinskas gave good support with 5 points getting to the free throw line. However Frankfurt stayed tough getting to the free throw line getting free throws from Edoka and Julius Messer for the 2 point lead after 3 quarters.” We began bad, but came back strong to end the quarter. Edoka was vital in helping us comeback”, added Ivan Crnjac. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 48% from the field and 19% from the three point line and had 25 rebounds and 4 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 41% from the field and 29% from the three point line and had 27 rebounds and 7 turnovers.
Niko Jerkic at the FT line
In the fourth quarter Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners were able to build on their lead and lead by 10 points with 4 minutes to play, but the script in this thriller had one more run to give to ratiopharm ulm, but they couldn´t get the win on the last possession. In the first 4 possessions of the fourth quarter, both teams executed well as Frankfurt got baskets from Edoka and Finley Pruever while Ratiopharm Ulm got baskets from Jerkic and Danish youth national player Frederik Erichsen, but Frankfurt had the slim 72-70 advantage. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners then wanted to decide the game and overpowered ratiopharm Ulm with a vicious 14-6 run to extend their lead to 86-76. In the run Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners were led by Jamie Edoka with 7 points. As usual his drive was unstoppable, but he also sprayed in a three pointer. He finished the game with 34 points and was as humble as usual about his game. “Anyone on our team can score 34 points. Today it was just my turn”, said Jamie Edoka. Messer also added a tip in a thunderous 2 handed dunk. “I always could do a 2 handed dunk”, smiled Julius Messer. However ratiopharm ulm still had one punch in them totally shocking Frankfurt with a 11-1 run to snatch the lead back at 88-87 with 18 seconds remaining. In the run, the guests were led by Jordan Mueller who had 8 points including 2 three´s from each corner. “Mueller played very well. He is so quick and hit big three´s”, stated Jamie Edoka. “We made some defensive mistakes. We didn´t defend well on Mueller. We were already mentally secure with the win”, said Ivan Crnjac. With 18 seconds to play, Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had possession and Ivan Crnjac made the finger tip lay in for the 89-88 lead. “I broke out of the play. I felt good making that lay in with the spin. I actually tried that before from the other side during the Top 4”, stated Ivan Crnjac. “Ivan showed what kind of a great individual abilities he has. He was there for the team making that big basket”, said Thore Bethke. Ratiopharm Ulm had possession with 3,7 seconds to play, but Julius Messer made the big defensive game deflecting the ball to his teammate to end the game. “Julius had a great week of practice. He made a big steal. He had a great game and was mentally tough”, stressed Thore Bethke. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners was led by Jamie Edoka with 34 points while Namori Omog added 20 points and Ivan Crnjac had 18 points and ratiopharm Ulm was led by Jordan Mueller with 22 points while Niko Jerkic had 14 pointzs and Oliver Kullamae added 11 points. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 49% from the field and 20% from the parking lot and had 30 rebounds and 4 turnovers while ratiopharm Ulm shot 45% from the field and 35% from the parking lot and had 37 rebounds and 12 turnovers.
Malik Riddle (193-G-1999, college: HSU) is a 24 year old 193cm guard from Tennessee playing his second professional season and first in Germany with Pro B team RheinStars Cologne. Last season he played with Gzira Athleta Birkirkara (Malta-BOV League D1) averaging 28.8ppg, 9.4rpg, 3.9apg, Steals-3 (2.6spg), FGP: 57.8%, 3PT: 33.1%, FT: 75.5%. He began his basketball career at Rossville Christian Academy. He then played 2 seasons at Morehead State University (NCAA) and then played 3 seasons at Henderson State University (NCAA2). He teams up with germanhoops.com every week to talk basketball.
Congrats Malik on the huge 121-57 win. How important was this win going ino the last weeks of the regular season? This win was very important, especially coming back from losing 2 in a row.
How proud were of the team that they didn´t underestimate the team who was missing some key guys?
I was very proud of the team. That showed a lot of character from us. We could’ve just messed around and took that team for granted but everyone played with energy and intensity from start to finish.
You didn´t play. How is the status of your injury? When can you suit up again? Been doing rehab work on it past couple weeks so I’m trying to be ready for this coming up game.
The score was decided at the break as the RheinStars led 64-31. Did it seem at times like it was men playing against boys? Well you could tell they had younger guys or guys who don’t play as much playing big minutes and we took advantage of that during the game by not letting them get too much confidence during the game.
Is it fair to say that the RheinStars played a consistent game for 40 minutes. The team allowed only 10 points in the fourth quarter and finished the game strong. I think we did have a consistent game. I think everyone who played gave good minutes and brought great energy when they were on the floor.
The Rheinstars did so much well. They dominated the boards, had 30 assists and 16 steals. What was the team´s biggest strength on the night? The defense was great. I feel we were disruptive with our on ball defense
Rower and Hennen combined for 9 points and Remagen and Michels for 41 points. What does that say for the team depth? With this team it could be anyone’s night any game. We have multiple guys who can score the ball.
You next play Orange Academy who you beat 91-76 on September 28th 2024. What will be key to sweeping the season series? If we play with the effort and energy we had this past game I think we should be able to take care of business.
Andre Wesson (198-F-1997, college: Ohio St., agency: Players Group) is a 27 year old 198cm forward from Ohio playing his fourth professional season and first with Dziki Warszawa (Poland-OBL). Last season he played with at Budapesti Honved SE (Hungary-A Division) averaging 12.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 75.0%. In the 2022-2023 season he split time with Anorthosis Ammohostou (Cyprus-OPAP) averaging 11.7ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg, in Jan.’23 moved to KFUM Nassjo Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging12.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 78.6%. He played his rookie season with Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 16.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 63.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.2%. He began his basketball career at Westerville South High school and then played at Ohio State (NCAA) from 2016-2020 playing a total of 126 games and as a senior averaged 9.2ppg, 3.9rpg, 1.9apg, FGP: 50.5%, 3PT: 42.2%, FT: 80.0%. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a ENBL game against Bamberg.
Thanks Andre for talking to germanhoops.com. Your playing your fourth professional season and have seen many countries. You keep grinding and moving up the ladder now in a strong league in Poland. Do you have a chip on your shoulder after coming from top NCAA school Ohio State? For sure, coming from a top school like Ohio State, and playing a big role for the team that was ranked high during my time there. I think we were number 2 in the country twice, and thought I had a good year especially my senior season. So to go from that to not even playing the following year whether that was G-league or overseas was really a shock to me and a wake up call I would say. It was definitely a rough time for me and made me look in the mirror about what I could do better, and something that I try to carry with me even today.
Your playing your first season with Dziki Warszawa (Poland-OBL). What kind of an experience has it been for you and what have you enjoyed most from the experience?
It’s been a great experience so far. I’m in a great city with plenty of things to do, good food and great people in the organization who are always trying to make things easier for you so you can just focus on basketball. The thing I’ve enjoyed the most here are my teammates. Of course we come in everyday focused on work and getting better, but these guys make it fun too. Being one of the younger players on the team I’ve learned from these guys too about taking care of your body and having a routine. It can be a long season, especially this time of year for guys like me being so far from home, but my teammates have made it better and kept me focused on the task of winning games and getting better everyday.
Dziki Warszawa (Poland-OBL) is in the middle of the pack in the Polish first division. What does the club have to do better in the next 2 months to reach the playoffs?
Yea we started off pretty good and were winning games because of our defense. We weren’t the best team offensively but our defense was good enough to get it done. We’ve hit a little rough patch here recently which is a little understandable, I mean we got 2 new players in the matter of 3-4 weeks. It’s helped us offensively. I think we’re playing at a good pace offensively and moving the ball well, so I’m excited to see what we can do in these next 2 months. I think if we get back to what we were doing at the beginning of the year on defense which is on all of us, I think we could really do something special honestly.
Your playing Bamberg in the ENBL quarterfinals. Your still searching for your first pro chip. What kind of a series can we await?
It’ll be a battle for sure. They have some really good players over there, my guy Ibi Watson that I played travel basketball with in high school and have played against on every level it feels like now. I played against Noah Locke when I was in Hungary, so I’m familiar with some of their players, and know that it’ll be a challenge. I know that we’re ready for it though and wouldn’t want it any other way. We feel like we match up well with anybody that we play, and know that when we play to the level we are capable of for 40 minutes we’re a tough team to beat. Personally, I know that the ultimate compliment you can get in a team sport is to be labeled as a winner. So getting this first pro championship for me would be huge and something that I don’t take lightly.
Bamberg are the favorite on Paper. What will be key to getting by them and advancing? Yea like I stated early I think it all starts for us on the defensive end. Offensively we need to keep doing what we’re doing, getting the best shot available every time down court, taking care of the ball and playing with pace. I think if we continue to do that and get back to our defensive identity we’ll be just fine not just for this series, but the ones later on as well.
What has it been like sharing the court with Swedish national player Denzel Andersson. What have you appreciated most about his game? It’s been great. I mean some of the things he’s able to do on the defensive end you can’t even teach. He can guard multiple positions and using his length to block and alter shots is nothing like I’ve seen in person close up. Coupled with his ability to shoot the ball he’s one hell of a player. And as good as a player that he is,he’s an even better person which makes it even better he’s my teammate.
You’re a guy that gives good scoring qualities, but all in all fill up then stat sheet. What is your role on the team?
I think it’s just that. A guy who fills in the gaps for the team, whether that’s scoring, rebounding or defending, it’s whatever the game calls for that specific day or night that I can do it.
You’re a 198cm guard. If you had to compare your game to a NBA player who would best fit the description?
That’s tough. I feel like there’s not really anybody who would fit exactly, but just some who are close or come to mind would be Derrick White, Christian Braun or Terrance Mann. Guys who are kind of glue guys on their team, who are versatile and just competing, doing whatever that game calls for to get the win.
Talk a little about your strengths on offense. You also give good support with your outside shot. What is your biggest asset in your game? Offensively I think my best asset is my versatility. I feel like I’m a guy that can post up, I can play off the ball in a catch in shoot and can play in pick in rolls and create. I think I don’t do one thing that just stands out as amazingly well, but a lot of things are good.
How would you describe your defensive game? What kind of a defender are you at the moment and what kind do you still want to become?
I think I’m a very good defender. I can guard multiple positions, I’m good in post defense and 1 on1 perimeter defense. I use my length well to bother and block shots. There’s still things I can be better at to become the elite defender I want to be. I think I need to be better in close out situations, I’d like to get a little stronger so I can guard even more positions and get better in consistently navigating screens better in pick and roll situations. I think if I do these things I can become elite.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to improve your game?
Just continuing to work on my outside shot mainly catch and shoot situations. Also working on playing out of close out situations and making decisions and reads quicker, and as a stated early getting a little stronger. Not like I don’t feel strong now, but I think adding more strength to my lower body and core could add even more to my game.
Last season you balled with Budapesti Honved SE (Hungary-A Division) averaging 12.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 43.7%, 3PT: 32.4%, FT: 75.0%. You had a long playoff run. What will you always remember from that playoff grind?
The biggest thing I learned and remember from that playoff run was its being a lot more physical and very tactical. Being in these series these teams know all your tendencies and throw things at you to put you in uncomfortable situations. I think the key to it is instead of letting it affect you in any way, that’s when you should lock in even more and find a way to get it done. I think at times last year especially in the first series I would let some of the things they’d do affect me and take me out of my game instead of locking in more and just figuring it out. I think I was able to do that in the last 2 series and it helped me a lot.
In your second pro season you split time with Anorthosis Ammohostou (Cyprus-OPAP Basket League) averaging 11.7ppg, 7.7rpg, 2.0apg, in Jan.’23 moved to KFUM Nassjo Basket (Sweden-Basketligan) averaging 12.0ppg, 5.2rpg, 2.2apg, FGP: 52.2%, 3PT: 38.7%, FT: 78.6%. How tough was this season? You saw how basketball can be a business. What did you learn about yourself in this season?
It was really tough. As you said it was the first time that I really got to see how the business of basketball works. I had come off a pretty good year in Finland personally, team wise I wish we could’ve done more that year, but I thought I had made a big step in my game that first year. It was a rough first month in Cyprus. I got sick and was out for a week and a half, and other circumstances were going on. I never really was able to get comfortable and get back to the form that I was at. I got pretty close with some of my teammates out there so getting cut hurts, and made me realize that teams aren’t going to be patient with you always. Just like you have a job to do so do they, and that’s putting a team out there that they feel gives them the best chance to win. So I didn’t take it too personally, but it was definitely something that even today that I carry with me. Luckily, I was able to be picked up mid way through the year that season by Nassjo and was able to have a decent year there. It was a wild and difficult year, but I learned a lot and honestly wouldn’t want to change anything about it.
In Sweden you were swept by Norrkoping in the playoffs. What made it so difficult getting by them?
They were a really good team. I think the thing that stood out the most about playing them was their depth. It felt like anytime that they made a change or sub that they didn’t have any drop off. They had size, experience and players that were threats at all positions. They were well coached too, I mean there’s a reason I think they’ve won that league three straight years. You could tell that a lot of them had played together for some years with how connected they were offensively and defensively.
You played your rookie season with Lapuan Korikobrat (Finland-Korisliiga) averaging 16.1ppg, 5.3rpg, 2.5apg, 1.5spg, FGP: 63.7%, 3PT: 34.7%, FT: 80.2%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being overseas where you knew that you were far away from home?
My wake up call happened as soon as I got to the city. Lapua was a very small town, super quiet wasn’t much to do which is different from where I’m from. That was the first time I ever saw that much snow, and it got dark around 3 in the afternoon which I didn’t even think was possible. The people there are great people though, they helped me a lot with my adjustment and tried their best to make you feel comfortable. I had great teammates while I was there also so it ended up being a good time. Wish we could’ve won more games, but after not playing my first year out of college I was just glad to be playing again.
You had some high scoring games at the end of the season like 30 points against the Bisons and 29 points against Korhait. What was your fondest moment on and off the court in Finland?
Like I said I had great teammates. There wasn’t much to do off the court, but we still had some good times just hanging out with each other after practices and games. The best memory I had though was at the end of the year we went skiing, and that was the first time I had ever done that so that was pretty cool. The best on the court memory was probably when we beat Lahti at home. At the time I don’t think they had beaten them in two years or so, pretty much the whole game we were down and at the end I got hot and we were able to beat them in overtime. That was pretty cool seeing how happy everybody in the organization was after that game.
You played at Ohio State from 2016-2020 and reached 2 NCAA tournaments. Which run was sweeter? You lost to Gonzaga and Houston?
The run that was sweeter to me was the 2019 year when we upset Iowa St. We were on the bubble that year, and didn’t even know if we were going to be in the tournament. We had a super up and down year, I mean I think at one point we were #10 in the country and then we got to January and didn’t win a game that whole month. Towards the end of that year we were able to get some big wins and found our way into the tournament. Got placed against a really good Iowa St team with Tyreese Haliburton, Talen Horton-Tucker, Marial Shayok I think they had just won the Big 12 tournament so nobody had us winning that game. To be able to upset a team like that was huge for our team, unfortunately we played another really good Houston team the next game and wasn’t able to get it done. But that was a good time just being able to get into the tournament after such a crazy year and get a win. The 2018 year I felt like we let that one get away when we played Gonzaga. We felt like we had a really good team that year and could’ve done something special, so to lose that game especially the way that we did really hurt. That year we had a good chance of winning the Big Ten so we felt like we could’ve done more than what we accomplished.
You played 2 seasons with future NBA player Keita Bates-Diop. What was it like for you seeing him perform and what kind of an influence did he have on you? Man Keita Bates-Diop was a hell of a player. My Freshman year he got hurt and wasn’t able to play the majority of that year, and it hurt our team for sure. Just seeing the way that he came back that following year was special though. Just the way he attacked everyday in practice and leading up to that year in his workouts you knew that he was going to have a great season that following year, and he did. I think he was Big Ten Player of the year, and I think he was an All-American also. It was a special year for him and our team. If it wasn’t for the buzzer beater loss to Penn State that year we could’ve won the Big Ten regular season championship. I think him and Jae’sean Tate had a big influence on all of us in how hard you have to work, and the energy you have to bring everyday to be the best version of yourself.
You had many great games and wins like beating Michigan and Kentucky in your senior year. What was your fondest moment there?
That year was a movie, it’s hard to really even explain everything that we went through that year. From losing teammates, to being ranked #2 In the country two different times it had so many ups and downs. I just really wish that it wouldn’t have been cut short by Covid to see how it would’ve ended. We beat a lot of good teams that year, and I personally think that we could have accomplished a lot. I have a lot of great memories from that year from winning at North Carolina, beating Kentucky in Las Vegas, beating Michigan home and away. I had great teammates too that made even off the court fun, so that was a special year and something that I’ll never forget.
How did Chris Holtman groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
He taught me a lot in my time there. Him and Coach Matta I learned a lot from them both. They taught me what it looks like to work hard, and the sacrifices that you have to make for the betterment of the team. That just going to practice and doing team stuff isn’t enough if you want to be the best. That you should leave a program better off than it was before you got there. I learned how to be a better man in my time there, and how important relationships are. So I’m very grateful for them and the role that they played in my life.
Who is the toughest player that you ever faced in your life that reached the NBA?
The toughest player I faced was probably Jayson Tatum or Malik Monk. Malik Monk scored 50 points against my team in AAU with Coach Calipari there and it was the easiest 50 points I’ve ever seen in my life. He had the first 9 points of the game before 30 seconds had run off the clock. Jayson Tatum was the toughest player I had to face; he just didn’t have any real weaknesses offensively.
Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?
My 5 best teammates are one my brother, of course he’s my brother, but to be the best player on my team and be so unselfish is a testament to him as a person. Two would probably be CJ Jackson, just another guy that was so unselfish and would do anything for you. Three would be Kam Williams, probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around and made you want to push yourself to be in the gym because you knew he was. Four would be Jelani Rodgers, a guy that I played with in high school. He was our point guard and another one that just worked so hard was always in the gym and sacrificed a lot for the team so we all could be successful. Five would be Jae’Sean Tate, he was also so unselfish and to a fault sometimes, but just how he brought it every single day and worked hard to be where he’s at now was inspirational to everybody on that team.
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? My NBA Mount Rushmore would be Micheal Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Who is your GOAT? My GOAT is LeBron James. It’s close though Michael Jordan was the standard, but for LeBron to have won everywhere that he’s been, do it for as long as he’s done it and the talent that he’s had to face and still win with little to nothing to work with is amazing to me. I get Mike was a killer and had to face a lot of talented players too, but people don’t ever bring up just how great the players around him were when he was winning those championships. Not to take anything from Mike, but Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Horace Grant, Tony Kukoc, Ron Harper these guys were dawgs. Let alone having one of, if not the greatest coach of all time in Phil Jackson.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I did see the sequel and it was bad can’t lie. Probably should have left it alone, but as long as Eddie Murphy wants to make a movie I’m all for it personally. He’s one of my favorite actors with so many classics it’s hard to tell him to leave any movie alone.
German Hoops 